Lightweight E-Mobility Attracts Cambridge Angels, StubHub IPO Positions VCs for Exit, and Why Provisional Patents Are a Red Flag

Happy Thursday.

Here are your angel deals of the week, some bookmarks I think you’ll enjoy, and the best nugget from my conversation with Russ Krajec.

🔥 Angel Deals of the Week

Angel funding rounds announced in recent weeks, compiled from public sources. These deals represent the elite few that survived an angel network’s vetting process. Note: I have not personally analyzed these companies and am sharing for informational purposes only.

🤝 Want more details on these companies or have an angel deal to share? Reply to this email - I’d be happy to connect you with the source angel group or feature your deal.

🤖 Deal summaries generated using dealmemo.ai.

ARK Capture Solutions | Low-cost carbon capture tech

Participating Group: BeAngels

ARK Capture Solutions is developing a carbon capture technology targeting industrial facilities with low-concentration CO₂ emissions (4-15%), which represent 50% of global Tier 2 emissions. The company's proprietary hybrid solution aims to cut capture costs by half while producing high-purity CO₂ for utilization or storage. ARK has secured €2.2M in pre-seed funding led by Aperam Ventures and Seeder Fund, with support from BeAngels, Climate Club, Lune Ventures, InvestBW, Noshaq, and Wallonie Entreprendre. The company has a functional 2-ton prototype and plans to scale to 40-ton and 400-1,000-ton demonstration units in partnership with industrial partners.

Aurélien Vantomme | €2.2M Pre-seed | Belgium | March 26, 2025 | Source

Gramiyaa | Vertically integrated cold-pressed oils

Participating Group: Mumbai Angels

Gramiyaa is a Bengaluru-based brand specializing in cold-pressed cooking oils that has raised $840K equivalent in pre-Series A funding led by Homegrown Ventures, with participation from Campus Fund and Mumbai Angels. The company operates its own manufacturing facility, combining traditional wood and stone mills with modern processes to produce premium groundnut, sesame, and coconut oils. Funds will be used to expand production capacity to 400,000 liters monthly, enhance sourcing capabilities, and strengthen distribution channels, including its D2C platform and retail presence primarily in Tamil Nadu.

Sibi Manivannan | Pre-Series A | Bengaluru | March 26, 2025 | Source

FLIT | Lightweight folding e-bike

Participating Group: Cambridge Angels

FLIT is developing lightweight folding electric bikes for urban commuters, with their FLIT M2 model weighing 14.5 kg and offering a 50 km range. The Cambridge-based company employs a no-weld adhesive bonding technique that improves precision and reduces weight compared to similar models. FLIT recently secured £1.2 million from ACF Investors, Cambridge Angels, and Tony Purnell to accelerate production and delivery of the FLIT M2 to UK customers.

Alex Murray | £1.2M Funding Round | Cambridge, UK | March 2025 | Source

🔖 Bookmarks

1. 10 Charts on how the world is changing 🌎 | Rex Woodbury @Digital Native (link)

2. Microsoft is backing off on some data center projects. 🚫 | Matt Day & Ryan Vlastelica @Bloomberg (link)

3. Stubhub filed for IPO, positioning Madrone Partners, WestCap Management, and Bessemer for a win. 🎟️ | Bailey Lipschultz and Katie Roof @Bloomberg (link)

🥇 The Nugget: My Top Takeaway from This Week’s Conversation with Russ Krajec

Provisional patent = red flag 🚩

According to Russ, the basic difference between a full and provisional patent application is a ~$600 fee.

This simple economic decision speaks volumes about a founder's confidence in their tech.

If they believe their IP will be valuable enough to build a defensible moat around their business, why wouldn't they spend an extra $600 to secure it properly and immediately? On the flip side, if they don't think it's worth that modest investment, why pursue patent protection at all?

Takeaway: Next time you hear "we've filed provisional patents," don't just check the mental “hooray they have some IP” box. Instead, do a double take and ask "Can you tell me more about your IP strategy?"

Want more? Check out my full conversation with Russ 👇

🎙️ Latest Episode

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more.

Until Next Week 👋

Thanks for reading - have a great week.

-Andrew

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